Mobile Fact Sheet

In contrast to the largely stationary internet of the early 2000s, Americans today are increasingly connected to the world of digital information while “on the go” via smartphones and other mobile devices. Explore the patterns and trends that have shaped the mobile revolution below.

Mobile phone ownership over time

The vast majority of Americans – 95% – now own a cellphone of some kind. The share of Americans that own smartphones is now 77%, up from just 35% in Pew Research Center’s first survey of smartphone ownership conducted in 2011.

Cellphone

Smartphone

10/27/2002

62%

11/30/2004

65%

2/9/2005

66%

12/31/2005

67%

3/28/2006

66%

4/6/2006

73%

9/5/2007

76%

12/2/2007

75%

1/13/2008

77%

5/11/2008

78%

8/10/2008

82%

12/20/2008

84%

1/27/2009

85%

4/19/2009

85%

9/14/2009

84%

12/27/2009

83%

1/19/2010

80%

5/30/2010

82%

9/13/2010

85%

11/1/2010

84%

11/24/2010

82%

11/28/2010

82%

12/21/2010

81%

3/20/2011

86%

5/22/2011

83%

35%

8/26/2011

84%

12/21/2011

87%

1/8/2012

88%

1/15/2012

87%

39%

2/19/2012

88%

45%

4/3/2012

88%

46%

8/5/2012

87%

44%

8/7/2012

89%

9/6/2012

85%

45%

9/23/2012

88%

43%

9/30/2012

89%

10/14/2012

88%

11/4/2012

89%

11/10/2012

84%

46%

12/9/2012

87%

45%

12/16/2012

88%

1/6/2013

89%

51%

5/19/2013

91%

56%

7/14/2013

90%

53%

7/28/2013

91%

53%

9/16/2013

89%

54%

9/30/2013

91%

55%

10/6/2013

92%

58%

1/5/2014

92%

55%

1/12/2014

90%

58%

1/26/2014

91%

55%

2/18/2014

90%

4/27/2014

92%

9/21/2014

91%

12/21/2014

89%

59%

4/12/2015

92%

67%

7/12/2015

92%

68%

11/15/2015

91%

69%

4/4/2016

92%

72%

5/3/2016

92%

70%

11/6/2016

95%

77%

1/10/2018

95%

77%

Pew Research Center

Who owns cellphones and smartphones

A substantial majority of Americans are cellphone owners across a wide range of demographic groups. By contrast, smartphone ownership exhibits greater variation based on age, household income and educational attainment.

% of U.S. adults who own the following devices

Any cellphone

Smartphone

Cellphone, but not smartphone

Total

95%

77%

17%

Men

95%

80%

16%

Women

94%

75%

19%

Ages 18-29

100%

94%

6%

30-49

98%

89%

9%

50-64

94%

73%

21%

65+

85%

46%

40%

White

94%

77%

17%

Black

98%

75%

23%

Hispanic

97%

77%

20%

Less than high school graduate

90%

57%

33%

High school graduate

92%

69%

24%

Some college

96%

80%

16%

College graduate

97%

91%

6%

Less than $30,000

92%

67%

25%

$30,000-$49,999

98%

82%

15%

$50,000-$74,999

98%

83%

15%

$75,000+

98%

93%

5%

Urban

96%

83%

13%

Suburban

94%

78%

16%

Rural

91%

65%

26%

Source: Survey conducted Jan. 3-10, 2018.

Pew Research Center

Ownership of other devices

Along with mobile phones, Americans own a range of other information devices. Nearly three quarters of U.S. adults now own desktop or laptop computers, while roughly half now own tablet computers and around one-in-five own e-reader devices.

E-reader

Tablet computer

Desktop/laptop computer

1/13/2008

74%

4/19/2009

2%

9/14/2009

3%

5/30/2010

4%

3%

6/20/2010

78%

9/13/2010

5%

4%

11/24/2010

6%

5%

5/22/2011

12%

8%

8/26/2011

9%

10%

12/21/2011

10%

10%

75%

1/8/2012

18%

20%

1/15/2012

19%

19%

78%

2/19/2012

14%

14%

4/3/2012

18%

18%

8/5/2012

19%

21%

8/7/2012

25%

11/10/2012

19%

24%

77%

12/16/2012

29%

1/6/2013

26%

31%

5/19/2013

24%

34%

9/30/2013

24%

34%

4/12/2015

19%

45%

73%

4/4/2016

17%

48%

74%

11/6/2016

22%

51%

78%

1/10/2018

53%

73%

Pew Research Center

Smartphone dependency over time

As the adoption of traditional broadband service has slowed in recent years, a growing share of Americans now use smartphones as their primary means of online access at home. Today one-in-five American adults are “smartphone-only” internet users – meaning they own a smartphone, but do not have traditional home broadband service.

U.S. adults

2013

8%

2014

--

2015

13%

2016

12%

2017

--

2018

20%

Pew Research Center

Who is smartphone dependent

Reliance on smartphones for online access is especially common among younger adults, non-whites and lower-income Americans.

Age

Race

Gender

Income

Education

Community

18-29

30-49

50-64

65+

2013

12%

9%

7%

3%

2014

--

--

--

--

2015

19%

16%

11%

7%

2016

17%

13%

11%

7%

2017

--

--

--

--

2018

28%

24%

16%

10%

Pew Research Center

White

Black

Hispanic

2013

6%

10%

16%

2014

--

--

--

2015

10%

19%

23%

2016

9%

15%

23%

2017

--

--

--

2018

14%

24%

35%

Pew Research Center

Men

Women

2013

9%

8%

2014

--

--

2015

14%

13%

2016

12%

12%

2017

--

--

2018

20%

19%

Pew Research Center

Less than $30,000

$30,000-$49,999

$50,000-$74,999

$75,000+

2013

12%

9%

5%

5%

2014

--

--

--

--

2015

20%

15%

10%

6%

2016

21%

12%

10%

5%

2017

--

--

--

--

2018

31%

22%

14%

9%

Pew Research Center

Less than high school graduate

High school graduate

Some college

College graduate

2013

14%

11%

8%

4%

2014

--

--

--

--

2015

21%

17%

14%

6%

2016

27%

15%

12%

5%

2017

--

--

--

--

2018

39%

22%

21%

10%

Pew Research Center

Urban

Suburban

Rural

2013

9%

7%

9%

2014

--

--

--

2015

15%

12%

15%

2016

12%

12%

14%

2017

--

--

--

2018

22%

17%

17%

Pew Research Center

Find out more

Find more in-depth explorations of the impact of mobile adoption by following the links below.

About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.